Indie Games Spotlight for December 18th, 2011

This is the final part of a three part series where Ergo Me Smart is assisting me in selecting our top Indie games of this past year. We each have selected three titles we feel were the best of the best. This week we detail our best game of the year, and I will lead off with our guest contributor's pick first:

Flick hapless Critters around to get them safely out of each level! Dodge all sorts of lethal goodies like spikes, buzzsaws, and fire, and use a variety of wacky items to pull it off. Play through 60 mind-bending, reflex-testing singleplayer levels, 6 bloodthirsty challenge levels, and 1 murderous bucket-headed robot! Want more? Try out the local multiplayer and the built-in level editor.

RELEASE DATE: 8/24/2011DEVELOPER: ApathyWorksGENRE: Platformer

FEATURESOffline players 1 - 2Dolby Digital

Cute little blue things and bladesaws. What’s the worst that could happen? Oh, right. As possibly the best game from this year’s Indie Game Summer Uprising, this brain-puzzling and sometimes bloody game will be sure to enthrall.

This game, nicknamed ‘Angry Meat Lemmings’ by some, has the all-important ‘one more go...’ factor that’ll keep you playing, aided by the extremely polished graphics that sometimes feel like they’re literally popping out of the screen. With 60 levels to boot and more on the way from the developer, this game could keep your interest for hours. Unless you don’t like blood from a cute thing dying violently, that is.

What happens when DLC goes too far? Defeat the bad guy, save the world and get the girl! But first you'll need to find coins to buy DLC to enable animation, sound and even pausing.

RELEASE DATE: 11/2/2011DEVELOPER: Going Loud StudiosGENRE: Platformer

FEATURESOffline players 1Dolby Digital

When you first start the game you are presented with retro-style graphics and limited movement controls. You have to collect coins to purchase "DLC Packs" to unlock features of the game, such as animation, sound, and movement. Once you get these basic features, you can then further your quest to save the princess by locating a blacksmith who will give you a very dull sword that you must sharpen.

It may seem like the basic game-play concept is repetitive - collecting coins, unlocking a DLC feature pack, collecting more coins, etc. - but the humor that went into writing some of the DLC titles makes up for it.

I really love the concept of this game. It is a great platformer, with a little bit of tech-tree elements mixed in (the required DLC purchases to upgrade and advance your game). I really loved exploring the world and waiting for the next zany DLC feature to be unlocked so that I can further my quest to collect them all!

When not enjoying video games, our fearless newshound enjoys an nice pint of fermented barley and hops in a variety of styles. India Pale Ales, Stouts, Porters, Witbiers, Saisons, Gose, Lambics, Barleywine, you name it. If it has water, malted barley, hops and yeast in it, I'll consume it.
I also enjoy all things technological, Doctor Who, wrasslin, traveling, and spending time with my family.